Cutting vegetables

It’s a simple act: cutting vegetables. But the meditative pleasure it brings when you cut through the veggies makes it much more than just a part and parcel of the cooking process. It is an art form in its own right. But where it brings quiet joy is the soothing and sensory experience it provides.

As the knife glides through the crisp, colourful vegetables, there’s an innate rhythm and precision in creating uniform slices. The crunch of a capsicum, the snap of a carrot and the fragrance of fresh herbs make for an olfactory, tactile orchestra.

You become a monk as you focus on the task literally at hand. Worries and distractions fade into the background, allowing you to be present in the moment of knife hitting the chopping board or slab. The repetitive nature of chopping is a kind of quiet punk rock.

Cutting veggies is a pleasure that goes way beyond the utilitarian. So, the next time you pick up a knife to chop vegetables, savour the moment and relish in the pleasures it brings. And pop a bite into your mouth when no one’s looking.